By Vickie Baldwin, Director of Institutional Advancement

We’re eager to welcome new faculty and staff members to our Eastside Prep community this year!

“When I read the job description, it felt like my dream job,” notes Elena Ciot, Technology Support Specialist. Ciot started at EPS last spring, so she’s had an opportunity to begin getting to know the community. “The environment at EPS is incredibly welcoming, with friendly teachers and staff, and well-spoken, extremely talented, and smart students. I wake up every day thinking, ‘I love where I work.’” Ciot has a deep passion for technology and holds two degrees: a BA in Digital Technology and Culture and a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering. “My first degree was transformative, as it combined digital technology with art.” Her passion for technology and art led her to a passion for 3D printing. I run a small business in my downtime, creating 3D models for others to print, selling items, and continuously finding new and exciting projects to work on. Outside of my professional interests, I enjoy exploring beautiful places and playing guitar with my significant other.

Resident Teacher Elizabeth Baseman, who has a BA in Humanities and Anthropology from San Jose State University and an MA in Anthropology from Western Washington University, is currently completing a teaching credential course with Moreland University. She also notes her decade working in nontraditional education as a snowboard instructor, a spelunking and historic cave guide, a nanny, and in preschools. Baseman observes that the curriculum is what drew her to Eastside Prep, “EPS offers a variety of in-depth subjects not typically offered to middle and high schoolers.” She adds, “My last teaching experience taught me a lot about compassion and patience. I worked as a substitute for three months. With so many personalities, it was immediately apparent that creating a classroom culture of care, where students felt safe to share and learn together, was a priority. This teaching experience was humbling and impactful in many ways, but ultimately, it reinforced how leading with compassion and creating community is the most effective way to teach.”

Sara Daniel (Learning Support Specialist and Rainier Scholars Coordinator) is new to Eastside Prep, but is already connected to our community because of her work with Rainier Scholars families at EPS. “I saw the direct benefits of the individualized support that EPS provides. Each student I have worked with felt connected to someone they knew they could go to for support when they faced obstacles.” Daniel has a prime example of a compassionate leader in her life. The academic dean at her university helped her when she faced the numerous changes that come with college life and the harsh realities of being a student of color at a predominately white institution. “They were honestly kind and kindly honest, hearing me out when I explained my struggles. Our relationship through the years taught me a lot about leadership and ultimately set an example for the type of compassionate educator I strive to be.” Daniel, who has a BA in Education Studies from Colgate University (with a minor in African American Studies), enjoys playing pickleball, posing as a food critic at new restaurants, and traveling.

Ya Davis is joining EPS as our Athletic Trainer and Athletics Administrative Assistant. Davis, who holds a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley and a Master of Athletic Training from the University of Idaho, is excited to be closer to family and excited to work at Eastside Prep. “I worked at the Northwest School and was always impressed by the kindness of the EPS faculty, the beauty of the EPS facility, and the work ethic of the EPS students. I’m passionate about my profession, educating my patients on their injuries, and giving them tools for lifelong health. I hope to grow a didactic sports medicine program that can teach the foundation of athletic training and couple it with an immersive internship in the health sciences/athletic training.” Davis plays semi-professional and competitive adult soccer and enjoys working out. “If I’m not at school you can usually find me at the gym or on the pitch! I’m also the lead athletic trainer for the Seattle Derby Brats organization, which fields several roller derby teams!”

Kara Duval-Fowler, who has a BM in Voice Performance from Indiana University, joined EPS this fall teaching Upper School Math. Duval-Fowler, who has already been teaching math for over five years, was excited to join the EPS community. “EPS has shown what an incredibly supportive community it cultivates. Students are given the trust and tools to create independent studies, to learn outside of the classroom, and to work with diverse and sophisticated equipment on a daily basis, among other things. Teachers have high levels of creative freedom in the classroom, schedules that can encourage collaboration, and are fully supported by families and staff alike. To be part of a community that truly believes the best in each other and that actively holds each other accountable to achieve great things is a dream.” Duval-Fowler, who recently returned from a seven-month solo trip around Australia, notes that she has a wide scope of hobbies, everything from hiking and singing to games. She also notes that she cares deeply about working and living ethically and sustainably.

Sarah Hallman-Luhn, a proud member (and a Lifer!) of the EPS Class of 2020, returned to campus this year as one of our two Resident Teachers. Since leaving EPS, Hallman-Luhn attended the University of Portland where she received a BA in Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Special Education and Specialization in Social Emotional Learning. But Hallman-Luhn isn’t truly new to teaching—she spent over 1,000 hours in K-5 classrooms as part of her UP education! She notes, “My proudest accomplishment comes from working with my fifth graders in student teaching last year. I worked hard to establish a relationship with all my students and families.” That made returning to EPS an easy choice. “After experiencing various learning spaces throughout my student teaching practicums, I sought to return to an environment where the faculty are united in the same vision of creating a learning experience to benefit the whole student.”

Eastside Prep’s new School Nurse, Krista Kelly, is thrilled to be joining the team. “I was drawn to EPS because of its culture of embracing students as they are while preparing them to change the world for the better.” Kelly is excited that EPS is focusing on empathetic dialogue. “I have found it to be one of the most important tools in conflict resolution. When we can ‘see’ each other during our conversations we don’t focus as much on winning, but rather understanding. When people feel heard and valued, we can move forward toward stronger relationships built on trust and mutual respect.” Kelly, who is an RN and has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, lives in Kirkland and has three young children. She enjoys hiking, gardening, pottery, baking sourdough, and spending time with family. She considers herself a “classic elder millennial who skipped the cool phase and went straight to grannie hobbies,” (which she admits have not disappointed). She’s also learning Norwegian, “Kom og ta en prat med meg!”

“What drew me to EPS was the sense of community that is palpable as soon as you step on campus. It is a place where faculty/staff and students alike are invested in learning and growth,” says Kaitlin Medeiros. Medeiros is actually not new to EPS this year—she filled in as a School Counselor last year and is transitioning this year to Admissions Counselor. Noting this year’s focus on empathetic dialogue, Medeiros states, “My background is in mental health, and one of my favorite skills/perspectives is asking: ‘What is the kernel of truth?’ If I learn what is truly valuable to someone, it’s much easier to have compassion and empathy. It’s wonderful to watch a heated situation resolve when both parties understand what is valuable to each other.” Medeiros spends much of her time outside of EPS with her Morgan horse, Cazz. “I enjoy trail riding and socializing at the barn. I also like browsing libraries and bookstores for new reads and am motivated to get into kayaking now that I’m living in the Pacific Northwest!”

Eric Sieg, Technology Teacher, was eager to join our community this fall, “EPS is the school I wish I could have attended as a kid. The focus on thinking, learning, and the connection students have with the faculty make EPS a very special place.” Sieg, who has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Oklahoma, brings a wealth of technology experience to our school. He has been a network engineer for the U.S. Air Force, a software engineer for Appature, and a co-founder of SDP Digital (a mobile development/tech consultancy firm). His work with SDP focused on research, “We would create mobile apps to help organizations such as Harvard Medical scale the number of participants in existing studies by several orders of magnitude. Instead of six to twelve people coming in once a month, we could have thousands or hundreds of thousands of participants doing evaluations every day.” Sieg enjoys tutoring students in math, science, and technology and is an avid bridge player.

Upper School English Teacher Brooks Teevan enjoys outdoor sports like skiing, rock climbing, backpacking, and sailing. She also loves to travel, especially when she can practice her Spanish language skills. Teevan notes, “I first traveled solo when I was seventeen. I grabbed my backpack and arrived in Ireland with no plan. It was the best.” Since then she has traveled to Ghana, Japan, Ethiopia, Albania, Tanzania, Nicaragua, Laos, Peru, Cuba, and many more countries. Teevan, who holds a BS in Communications from Northwestern, an MSed from UPenn, and an MFA from the University of Minnesota, was drawn to both the people and the programs of Eastside Prep. “I enjoy the community at EPS among the staff and faculty who seamlessly blend silly and academic. And I am excited by the rigor of the courses and the quality of the facilities available at EPS.” Teevan lives in Seattle with her husband and two young children, and when not traveling she loves writing short stories and going to the theatre.